Printing apparatus with adding mechanism.



F. C. DOLCATER.

PRINTING APPARATUS WITII ADDING IIIEcIIANIsII/I.

APPL|CAT|0N FILED MAR. 15T IQJI RENEWED MAR.6I1919. 1,301,235. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F.' C. DOL'CATER.

PRINTNG APPARATUS WITH ADDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION HLED MAA.15, 1915. RENEwED MAR.6.1919.

1,301,235. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mfg@ edm'g Qozeazf,

F. C. DOLCATER.

PRINTING APPARATUS WITH ADDING NIECHANISNI.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I5, I915. RENEWED MAR. 6. 1919. 1,301,235. Patented m1211919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTATEs 'PATENT oEEIcE.

FREDERICK C. DOLCATER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

PRINTING APPARATUS WITH ADDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented pr. 22, 1919.

Application led March 15, 1915, Serial No. 14,539. Renewed March 6, 1919. Serial ,No. 281,671.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. Dor.- CATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Implate and 2 the provenients in Printing Apparatus with Adding Mechanism, of Whichthe following is a specification.

My present invention relates to means forselecting and transferring number items from record plates onto item wheels as said 'plates are passed sere'az'm through the addressing or printing apparatus of which they form a part, and in this respect my present invention is similar in its broad features to that disclosed in application for Letters Patent of the United States `filed by Ine August 5, 1914, #855,233

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure l is a plan view of so much of a printing machine as is necessary to an understanding of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of certain of the parts enlarged.

Fig. 2a is a plan view of part of a printing record or address plate with selective means to determine the value represented by the plate and which is to be transferred to the accumulator mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the machine with parts in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of ausimpler. form of machine in which the plates are fed and moved by hand. v

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of such machine.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view showing the mechanism for operating the chain feed of the printing plates.

Vhile I have shown the invention in connection with a handoperated printing or addressing machine, 1t will be understood that I do not restrict myself to the use of the.

in Figs. l, 2 and 3 as an exem'plication of my invention the movement of the printing plates themselves imparts to the item members their setting-up action.

In the drawings, l indicates the irinting guide-Way along which the plates are moved. This guide-way is adapted to receive the depressed margins `3 of the plate as in ordinary practice and the plates may be fed along this way by any suitable means as by a reciprocating shuttle bar or an endless chain. For convenience I show a chain feed 4, this being provided With dogs as in ordinary practice which singly take hold of thebottom plate of the pile a in the hopper 5 and move the plates step by step to the impression point 'under the impression head 6 carried by an impression arm 7. As I have chosen for convenience to show the invention in connection with a hand operated machine this impression arm is pivotally mounted at 8 and is operated by a handle 9 at or near lthe impression head. An inking ribbon is'shown at 10, this eX- tending over the impression point and then rearwardly at its ends to ribbon spools ll which are operated in an suitable manner from the pivoted end of t e' impression arm but as this forms no part of the present invention, it is unnecessary to describe these features in detail.

The record plates have selecting means indicating their values and adapted to control the item setting mechanism.

of these and the printing plates are each provided with a space at the right, in which space the selecting openings 13 are punched according to the value the plate represents. The plate on one side may be marked oil in blocks indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2a, there being five rows, as an example, one way and nine rows the other Way, each latter row representing the digits 1 to 9 inclusive. The itemKI wheels are those ordinarily. em-

ployed, each having digits running from to 9 inclusive. The order of digits in each column on the plate run from rightlto left and longitudinally of theplate in indicating the digits 1 to 9.

vSuppose the value of the plate in Fig. 2a

to be $2.59, the said plate would have its selecting means or openings disposed as those represented and these would be set up on the item wheels 12. The item mechanism besides the item wheels 12 includes a gear wheel 14,

one for each ite-m wheel, and those gear 19X tend to lit the arms 18 of the slides.-

Three of the slides are represented in F ig. 2 as having been pulledto the left and as having respectively operated'-the item wheels to indicate the digits 259.

Normally all the slides are in the position indicated at b in Fig. 2, that is, they are' at the right hand limit of their stroke, when normal. They are all raised, however, to the height indicated by the slide c. In feedin the plates leftward from the hopper 5, it 1s necessary that the plates be movedover the slides without causing the front edge of the plates to Contact with and draw the slides forward or to the left and thereafter, the front ends of the slides must rise through the openings in the plate and be moved bythe plate inthe final part of theplates step Imovement. Then the plate, therefore, performs its movement, all of the slides must first be depressed from their high position to allow the front edge ofv the printing plate to pass it. This' is done by an arm 20 on a rock shaft 21 which extends transversely over all the slides, said rock shaft being operated by an arm 22 controlled by a spring 23 and by an arm 24, the latterloeing connected with the pivoted end of the impression arm. The arin 24:' underlies and the spring overlies the arm 22. As inprevious forms of addressing machines, the feed of the record plates takes place Whenthe impression head rises, and in the present instance, the 'printing plate would begin to moveto the left from the hopper during the iirst part of the upward movement of the impression arm and would continue so to or the said impression arm.

As the irst part of the movement of the plates must be ineffective and only the subsequent or last portion of the plates moveee ment is utilized to operate the item transmove during' the last half upward stroke Lacasse .ferring slides, I depress all of the slides during the last half of the downward movement of the impression arm, and hold them down until the impression arm has reached the middle of its upstroke and because the printing plate begins its movement to the left with the beginning or substantially the beginning of the upward movement of the imi pression arm, the forward edge and forward portion of the record plate will have passed over the depressed slides without effect by the time the impression arm reaches the middle of its upstrokeand as thearm 24 now comes in contact with the arm 22 the controlling bar 20 will be raised and all the slide bars at their ends 18 will have an upward tendency owing to the pressure from the springs 19X and the pivot connection of the slides and if an opening occurs in the plate above any bar the upturned end of this bar will enter the opening and will thus be selected for operation -by the continued movement of the plate tothe left and this movement will be imparted to the item counting wheels and the values will be indicated thereon.

It will be clear that the bars will be moved distances corresponding to the location of the selecting openings in the plate with which the bars contact.

Fig. 2 represents the record plate at the end of its one step movement to the left.

Now in order to restore the item bars to their normal positions, they are depressed from engagement with the printing plate by 100 the rod 20 and arm 22 and spring` 23 when the impression arm reaches about the middle of itsdownward stroke the arm 2A then having lowered far enough to allow'the arm 20 to contact with and depress the item slides 105 at their left hand end.

When free from the printing plate, the slides which have been operated will move to the right back to normal position under-- the tension of their springs and as these 110 slides in this action will turn the item wheels back to normal position it will be necessary at this timeto transfer the values from th'e` item wheels which have been operated onto accumulator mechanism and this accumulater mechanism maybe of any suitable kind. l indicate diagrammatically in. Fig. l2 accumulator wheels at o. These may have gears or teeth which are thrown into gears or teeth on the item wheels before these are returned to normal position so that in this returning action the values on the item wheelsy will be transferred to the accumulator mechanism and when the item wheels have reached normal position and the values .125 have been transferred, the accumulator mechanism will be thrown out of connection with the item wheels, and these will be left `in position to be set up by the next plate.

Any suitable form of carrying mechanism 13.0

may be used for the accumulator mechanism for carrying from order to order.v This accumulator and carrying mechanism may'be like that shown in Letters Patent of the United States granted to George W. and A. L. Dudley November l, 1902, #712,777 or S. B. Austin, an example of the latters invention along this line being shown in Patent #1,071,382, August 26, 1913, it being understood that slight modification of said mechanism will be made to throw the accumulator wheels into and out of connection with the item wheels but as my invention does not 'relate to such adding mechanism per se but to a selective address or record plate and item connections controlled thereby I do not disclose herein such adding mechanism in detail. It is suflicieut for the purpose of my invention to show how the record plates will .transfer their values onto item wheels, the

further transfer of these items onto accumulator wheels from the item wheels relating to the adding mechanism itself, which as above stated. does not form a part of my present invention.

In Figs. l and 5 I show a form of machine in which the plates are placed one by one by hand and likewise removed.

A carrier 26 is movably mounted Ato receive the plates and after a plate is'placed in position thereon, by pressure of the hand., the carrier together with the plate is moved rearwardly under the inking ribbon and to the impression point and a hand .n operated lever is then brought down to make the impression. I utilize the movement of the plate as just; described to transfer its values onto item wheels and for this purpose. I use a series of item slides 26 having upturned ends to engage openings in the plates when the plates come into position over' these slides. The slides are spring mounted so that. their forward ends may be depressed to allow the depressed margin of the plate in the rear movement thereof to pass over the depressed upturned ends of the item slides.

For depressing the slides I employ a lever 27 pivoted at 28 to the frame and having an arm 29 reaching over the item slides, the said level being operated by a pin (Z on the plate carrier engaging a suitable cam or ineline on the lever, said plate carrier being marked 26 and the cam 31. The arrangement is such that after the plate has moved far enough rearward so that its depressed margin has passed over the depressed item slides, these slides can then rise and bear against the underside of the plate and then inthe continued movement of the-plate. any slide which has found an opening will engage the Same by its upturned end under the pressure of the spring 32 and during tlu` balance of the rearward movement of the plate, the item will be transferred to the .from a rock shaft 40.

item wheel. After the printing operation has been performed on the plate and this is drawn forwardly, the item wheels which. have been advanced will be returned to normal position and having thrown into connection with these item wheels accumulator wheels, the values will be transferred from the item wheels onto the accumulator mechanism in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the other form of the machine. As the printing plate with its carriage is drawn forward, the item slides will be depressed by the cam 31 and lever 27. 29 to allow the depressed margin of the printiner plates to pass over the upturned ends of` the item slides without having any effect thereon.

It will be observed that in both forms of the machine, the movement of the printing plate is utilized to transfer its value onto item wheels and adding mechanism.

The ste-p Iby step movement of the plates is effected by moving the feed chain step by step through mechanism operated from the arm 24. This mechanism is fully shown in Letters Patent of the United States granted to the assignee of the present applicant, No. 1,215,040, dated February 6.1917. thearm in said patent. corresponding te the arm 21 herein being there indicated at 15.

As shown in Fig. 6 the plate feed chain passes around wheels, one of which is shown at 3G. on a shaft 37. which is operated step by step in one direction by pawl and ratchet mechanism. indicated generally at 38. this mechanism being driven through gearing 39 which has an arm 41. engaged by the arm 24 connected with the impression arm 7. Oscillating movement of the impression arm will be imparted to the pawl and ratchet mechanism, so that the shaft 37 will be turned step by step. but always in one direction to give the feed chain its step by step feeding action, this mechanism being old, as in the patent of Lee, mentioned herein, No. 1,215,040.

I claim as my invention:

1. Incombination in a printing machine, impression means, a series of printing plates. a hopper for the plates. a plate feeder for moving the plates step b v step from the hopper to and past the impression means.

said printing plates having value selectingv means thereon, and item mechanism engaged by the selecting means and operated by one of the step by step movements of the printing plate. substantially as described.

2. In combination in a machine of the class described. impression means. a series of printing plates. a hopper therefor, .a

feeder for the printing plates to move them step by step to and past the impression means, said plates having value selecting means, item mechanism including item wheels and item slides, said item slides be `stantially ing adapted to engage the selecting means on tlie plates and be moved by one of the step by step movements thereof, said item slides being connected with and operating the item wheels, substantially as described.

3. In combination, impression means, printing plates having value selecting means, feed means for the plates moving them step by step past t-lie impression means, item mechanism to be engaged by said selecting means and to be operated by the plate in the movement of said plate and controlling means for the item mechanism to prevent engagement with the edge or other portion of the plate, said controlling means allowing the item mechanism to engage the plate after the plate has moved into position thereover, substantially as described.

4. In combination,` impression means, printing plates having openings serving as value selecting mea-ns, item mechanism to engage the said openings, means for moving the plates step by step, controlling means for the item mechanism to prevent engagement with the .plate at predetermined times, and to allow engagement at predetermined times, the operation of said item mechanism being initiated by the movement of the plate, and inA accordance with the disposition of the selecting openings on said plate, subas described.

5. In combination. a table having a straight run-way for `printing plates, a hopper at one end of said run-way, an impression member operating to and from the run-way` means foi feeding the printing plates step by step fnom the hopper along the run-way to and past the impression means, said printing plates having value selecting means, item mechanism arranged adjacent the said run-way to beset by and during the movement of the printing plates along the runway from one position to another, said item mechanism in this setting action being engaged with the valueselecting means of the printing plates, and means for releasing the'item mechanism from the printing plates and restoring the item mechanism to normal position. said means Opel'n ating in a, prescribed relation to the! impression member, substantially as described.

6. In combinationa table having a runway for printing plates, a hopper for said plates, an impression member movable toward and from the run-way, a feeder for the printing` plates for moving them step by step along the run-wav, said printing plates having value' selecting means, a series of item members to engage the said value selecting means, means for initially depressing the said item members to allow the printing plates to pass into position above them and for again depressing the item members for releasing the item members from the plates` .said means being-controlled by the moveascisse ment of theiimpression arm, and restoring means fpr the item members, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a table having a runway for printing plates, al hopper for said plates, an impression member movable toward and from the run-way, means for feeding the plates step by step along the run- Way to and past the impression member, said printing plates having Value selecting means, a series of item members to engage the value selecting means, means for depressing the said item vmembers and a` connection between the said depressing means'and the impression member, substantially as described.

8. In combination in a printing machine, printing plates, means for carryingf'hem to the impression point, said printi g plates having value selectin means thereon, item mechanism arranged elowA the path of the plate but having portions projecting up into said path to engage the value select-ing means, depressing means for the item mechanism to allow the printing'plate to pass above the same, said means being automatically operated in a prescribed relation t0 the movement of the printing plate, said plate in its further movement operating said item mechanism, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a printing apparatus, print-ing plates having depressed margins and value selecting means, a table havinga run-way, thc said depressed margins engaging vunder a portion of said run-way and holding the plates against upward displacement, item mechanism arranged below the run-way and to engage the plates from beneath the same, means for feeding the plates along the'run-way to and past the impression point and impression means, the said plates controlling the item mechanism, substantially as described.

l0. In combination impression means, printing plates havinu value selecting means, feed means for the plates moving them step by step past the impression means, item mechanism to be engaged by said selecting means and to be operated by the plate in the movement of said plate and controlling means for the item mechanism to prevent engagement with the edge or other portion of the plate, said controlling means allowing the item mechanism to engage the plate after the plate has moved into position thereover, said controlling means being operated from the impression means during certain periods only of the movement of said impression means, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a printing machine, means for moving printing plates to 'an impression point. and value selecting with and by and durin Ament of the plate, an 2o Y p late to have tially as descri of members to engage said value selecting means as the plate' moves, said item members having their plate engaging ends' arranged normally in the same plane transverse to the line of movement of the lates, saidjitem members moving individual y and t0 different degrees by their engagement with and b and during the further movement of the plate, substantially as described.

412. In combination in a printing machine, means for moving printing plates to an impression'point and value selecting means on the printing plates, item mechanism comprising a series of members to engage said value kselecting means yas the plate moves, said item members moving individually and to different degrees by their engagement the further movecontrollin means for depressin-the item members rom en gagement wi the plate to allow them to return to normal position and to permit the plate moves,

- engagement /with and further movement, Substan- 13. In combination in a rinting machine, impression means, means or moving printing plates to the impression point and value selecting means on the printlng plates, item mechanism comprising a series of members to engage said value selecting means as the said item members moving individually and to different degrees kby their by and during the the plate, and confrom the impression further movement of trolling means operated `means for depressing the item members from engagement with the plate to allow them to return to normal position andt'o permit the plate to have further movement, said controlling means operating todepress the.

ltem members to release 'them from the printing plates while the said rintin plate 1s at rest and during the stro e of t e impression means.

FREDERICK C. DOLCATER. Witnesses: v

WALm DoNAwsoN,

BmasmigI. BISHOP. 

